When Lewis and Clark arrived

Event looks back at settlement at Camp River DuBois

A display of the types of items used by the Lewis and Clark Expedition was part of the Arrival at Camp River Dubois celebration at the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site Interpretive Center Sunday.

Presenter Jim Duncan and Steve Bollini, of Godfrey, talk about rifles carried by members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition Sunday at the Arrival at Camp River Dubois celebration at the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site Interpretive Center. The Lewis and Clark Expedition — officially known as the Corps of Discovery — arrived at their winter camp Dec. 12, 1803.

Presenters talk to visitors at the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site Interpretive Center Sunday as part of the Arrival at Camp River Dubois celebration.

HARTFORD — On Dec. 12, 1803, three dozen soldiers arrived at the mouth of the Wood River in what is now Hartford and started building a fort.

Five months later they left, sailing off into history as the Corps of Discovery – better known today as the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

To celebrate the anniversary, the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site held its annual Arrival at Camp River Dubois celebration this weekend.

According to Michael Stout, a site service specialist who organized the event, there were two reasons the expedition stopped there.

Because official word of the transfer had not arrived, the military commandant of St. Louis did not want the expedition – a U.S. military unit – on the Missouri side of the river in what was still French territory.

“He wanted to have confirmation, so he asked Lewis and Clark to wait out in Cahokia (then the largest city in the area) for the winter while he got this confirmation,” Stout said.

Because Lewis did not want to have his soldiers fraternizing with townspeople, they traveled farther north, settling in at Camp River Dubois.

Stout said the area was lightly settled with English/American families living in the area.

They stayed for 154 days. The only place they stayed longer was Fort Mandan in the winter of 2004-05.

This weekend’s event included a number of displays, including general items that would have been used by members of the expedition, cooking in the log cabin, and specific displays of medical supplies, gems and tools.

Ron and Debbie Smith of Godfrey, were among those who came out for the programs.

“We have always been interested in Lewis and Clark,” Debbie Smith said. “We wanted to see what they had out here today.

“It’s really kind of neat, they really had to be tough,” she said of the expedition.

The couple spent much of their time talking to presenter Ken Porter.

Smith said they learned a number of things, including the many uses for cattle horns, including spoons and lampshades.

Porter started as a presenter for the Missouri Department of Conservation, and had a large display of items the expedition would have taken with them.

He noted that a popular item was small sea shell beads, which were used as decorations. However, that created a problem.

“The smallest needle the Native Americans had was the rib bone of a small fish,” Porter said. “These sea beads had holes so small it took a steel needle. Lewis and Clark carried 5,000 steel needles with them – which is about a 3×5-inch package – it sounds impressive.”

While they carried a many trade goods, Porter said there was not that much trade going on – the items were given out as gifts.

“Lewis and Clark were coming forward as ambassadors,” he said. “They said ‘We are going to trade with you, we are going to be bringing these goods up here. Take a look and see how fine these are.’”

Stout also said there are some common misconceptions about the expedition and what they did at the camp.

Except for food, the expedition didn’t gather many supplies in the area.

“The only thing they got out of St. Louis at this time was two barrels of whiskey, fish hooks, Capt. Lewis had two shirts made and he had a doctor make him thermometers,” Stout said.

From Cahokia they got food — along with beer, wine and whiskey.

Another misconception is that they had no idea what was out west.

Although there were many surprises, trappers and explorers had mapped much of the area, including most of the Missouri River.

“The people on the East Coast had no clue what was out here,” he added.

Stout also said it is important to remember that it was a military unit, so a lot of their time was spent participating in drills and training.

“These guys are doing the same things they’re doing at any other fort,” he said. “The difference is they are getting ready for the expedition and they have to learn to work together.

“They did not live in harmony with each other,” he added. “They were fighting constantly; they were sneaking out and getting drunk.”

“It’s a lot more complex than them gathering materials and playing soldier,” Stout said. “There’s a lot more to the Lewis and Clark story.”

The site, located at the intersection of Illinois Route 3 and New Poag Road, will hold its annual Point of Departure celebration in May. The interpretive center at the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. For information visit www.campdubois.com.

Event looks back at settlement at Camp River DuBois

By Scott Cousins

For The Telegraph

A display of the types of items used by the Lewis and Clark Expedition was part of the Arrival at Camp River Dubois celebration at the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site Interpretive Center Sunday.

http://thetelegraph.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_arrival-day3.jpgA display of the types of items used by the Lewis and Clark Expedition was part of the Arrival at Camp River Dubois celebration at the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site Interpretive Center Sunday.

Presenter Jim Duncan and Steve Bollini, of Godfrey, talk about rifles carried by members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition Sunday at the Arrival at Camp River Dubois celebration at the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site Interpretive Center. The Lewis and Clark Expedition — officially known as the Corps of Discovery — arrived at their winter camp Dec. 12, 1803.

http://thetelegraph.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_arrival-day1.jpgPresenter Jim Duncan and Steve Bollini, of Godfrey, talk about rifles carried by members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition Sunday at the Arrival at Camp River Dubois celebration at the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site Interpretive Center. The Lewis and Clark Expedition — officially known as the Corps of Discovery — arrived at their winter camp Dec. 12, 1803.

Presenters talk to visitors at the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site Interpretive Center Sunday as part of the Arrival at Camp River Dubois celebration.

http://thetelegraph.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_arrival-day5.jpgPresenters talk to visitors at the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site Interpretive Center Sunday as part of the Arrival at Camp River Dubois celebration.